Canon EOS 7D Digital SLRs

DESCRIPTION

Made to be the tool of choice for serious photographers and semi-professionals, the EOS 7D features an all-new 18.0 Megapixel APS-C size CMOS sensor and Dual DIGIC 4 Image Processors, capturing tremendous images at up to ISO 12800 and speeds of up to 8 fps. The EOS 7D has a new all cross-type 19-point AF system with improved AI Servo AF subject tracking and user-selectable AF area selection modes for sharp focus no matter the situation. The EOS 7D's Intelligent Viewfinder, an entirely newly-designed technology, provides 100percent coverage and displays user-selected AF modes as well as a spot metering circle and on demand grid lines. New iFCL Metering with 63-zone dual-layer metering system uses both focus and color information to provide accurate exposure even in difficult lighting. The EOS 7D also captures Full HD video at 30p (29.97 fps), 24p (23.976 fps) and 25p with an array of manual controls, including manual exposure during movie shooting and ISO speed selection. The EOS 7D features a magnesium alloy body that is dust- and weather-resistant and shutter durability of up to 150,000 cycles. Compatible with over 60 EF and EF-S lenses as well as with EOS System accessories, the creative opportunities - not just with stills but also with video - are beyond amazement.

USER REVIEWS

Showing 1-7 of 7

[May 25, 2016]

nikond80

Expert

Strength:

The shutter sound is softer than the original 7D but louder than a 6D. Silent drive mode fades operation to pianissimo, but with slower performance, making it ideal for ceremonies.

Weakness:

The only AF nitpick thus far is my existing lenses needed micro adjustment (calibration) for optimal sharpness. Oddly, most of these same lenses were fine at default on my old 7D.

Shooting with the 7D MKII was immediately intuitive and natural: operation, balance and appearance are similar to my old 7D. While it felt like an old friend in my hands, the 65-point AF array is what got me to lay down my hard earned cash. Here are my impressions about the 7D MKII after a month of shooting.

Thank you
James
http://canon7d.info

Similar Products Used:

7D MKII, Nikon D800

OVERALLRATING

4

★★★★★

★★★★★

VALUERATING

4

★★★★★

★★★★★

[May 25, 2016]

nikond80

Expert

Strength:

The shutter sound is softer than the original 7D but louder than a 6D. Silent drive mode fades operation to pianissimo, but with slower performance, making it ideal for ceremonies.

Weakness:

The only AF nitpick thus far is my existing lenses needed micro adjustment (calibration) for optimal sharpness. Oddly, most of these same lenses were fine at default on my old 7D.

Shooting with the 7D MKII was immediately intuitive and natural: operation, balance and appearance are similar to my old 7D. While it felt like an old friend in my hands, the 65-point AF array is what got me to lay down my hard earned cash. Here are my impressions about the 7D MKII after a month of shooting.

Between the AF abilities, high frame rate and pro-level options, this camera has been fantastic for my outdoor shooting. The LCD allows excellent image reviewing in the field and the camera controls are located in the right places to quickly become easy to adjust on-the-fly without needing to take your eye away from the view finder. Battery life has been excellent, generally only requiring me to recharge the batteries (2 batteries with the Canon battery grip) every 3 weeks or longer and well over 900 images and many hours of the camera being turned on while hiking during shooting. The dual Digic-4 processors do a great job of quickly writting the images to the CF (UDMA) card. I think I have only had to wait for the buffer once or twice while images were being saved, which is quite a feat considering I only shoot high quality RAW and often fired off multiple sequences or high fps shooting.

Weakness:

I expected better high ISO performance from the 7D, but am generally only satisfied with images taken up to ISO 1600. Using Noiseware Pro, I have been able to adequately clean up a number of images at ISO 3200 and higher. I have done some landscape photography with the 7D and an EF 24-70 2.8 L, but I have generally found a lack of crisp sharpness on distant features within the image at any F-stop. I have only shot one video, just to see how it turned out, but didn't necessarily want or care about video options. To me, the video is really a weakness because it represents a new potential area for the camera to fail, while at the same time adding significant cost to the purchase price. Perhaps someday I will find a need for the video and it may become a strength at the time, but until then-it doesn't provide me any value.

Being wildlife photography enthusiast with a lot of bird shooting opportunities, the highly regarded AF and multiple AF points of the 7D encouraged me to take the plunge and make the upgrade from my Rebel XSi. I have primarily used this body with an EF 100-400 4-5.6 L, but have occasionally mounted an EF 70-200 2.8 L on it. The combination of the APS-C sensor and the 100-400 mm lens make filling the frame with a wildlife subject pretty easy work. I purchased the Canon battery grip for this camera to extend my shooting time and help to balance it's feel when tied to a long lens. I used Arthur Morris' 7D User's Guide as a starting point for the camera settings, but as I became more comfortable with the camera and critiqued my results, I made further adjustments to finally obtain a relatively high keeper rate. There are a number of features of this camera that I never or seldom use, including it's ability to produce video. My use of this camera for outdoor wildlife and family activity photography has yielded high quality RAW files that have allowed me to take my photographic results to a higher level.

Customer Service

Haven't need it yet.

Similar Products Used:

Canon EOS Rebel XSi
Canon 5D Mark II

OVERALLRATING

4

★★★★★

★★★★★

VALUERATING

5

★★★★★

★★★★★

[Sep 01, 2010]

ksbryan0

Intermediate

Strength:

Between the AF abilities, high frame rate and pro-level options, this camera has been fantastic for my outdoor shooting. The LCD allows excellent image reviewing in the field and the camera controls are located in the right places to quickly become easy to adjust on-the-fly without needing to take your eye away from the view finder. Battery life has been excellent, generally only requiring me to recharge the batteries (2 batteries with the Canon battery grip) every 3 weeks or longer and well over 900 images and many hours of the camera being turned on while hiking during shooting. The dual Digic-4 processors do a great job of quickly writting the images to the CF (UDMA) card. I think I have only had to wait for the buffer once or twice while images were being saved, which is quite a feat considering I only shoot high quality RAW and often fired off multiple sequences or high fps shooting.

Weakness:

I expected better high ISO performance from the 7D, but am generally only satisfied with images taken up to ISO 1600. Using Noiseware Pro, I have been able to adequately clean up a number of images at ISO 3200 and higher. I have done some landscape photography with the 7D and an EF 24-70 2.8 L, but I have generally found a lack of crisp sharpness on distant features within the image at any F-stop. I have only shot one video, just to see how it turned out, but didn't necessarily want or care about video options. To me, the video is really a weakness because it represents a new potential area for the camera to fail, while at the same time adding significant cost to the purchase price. Perhaps someday I will find a need for the video and it may become a strength at the time, but until then-it doesn't provide me any value.

Being wildlife photography enthusiast with a lot of bird shooting opportunities, the highly regarded AF and multiple AF points of the 7D encouraged me to take the plunge and make the upgrade from my Rebel XSi. I have primarily used this body with an EF 100-400 4-5.6 L, but have occasionally mounted an EF 70-200 2.8 L on it. The combination of the APS-C sensor and the 100-400 mm lens make filling the frame with a wildlife subject pretty easy work. I purchased the Canon battery grip for this camera to extend my shooting time and help to balance it's feel when tied to a long lens. I used Arthur Morris' 7D User's Guide as a starting point for the camera settings, but as I became more comfortable with the camera and critiqued my results, I made further adjustments to finally obtain a relatively high keeper rate. There are a number of features of this camera that I never or seldom use, including it's ability to produce video. My use of this camera for outdoor wildlife and family activity photography has yielded high quality RAW files that have allowed me to take my photographic results to a higher level.

Settings and custom functions are out growing Canon's menu format. In my opinion they should re-think their interface to keep it simple.

I have not experienced this but overheating is said to be an issue with long video recordings.

I bought this camera to replace my Canon 30D and to supplement my 5DMKII. I wanted something durable and this is the least expensive Canon DSLR with a weather resistant body. Viewing clips of this camera in snow and rain was a selling point for me. I want to go on my next dusty 4x4 trip without having to worry about the camera.

The first thing I noticed after shooting with the 7D is how well it meters the image. I get great contrast even when lighting is harsh. I had a tendency to get blown highlights while using my 5DMKII. The bright LCD is the icing on the cake when reviewing photos.

The 19-point auto-focus is so cool and almost futuristic. It's fast and seems like it read my mind on where to focus. It took me sometime though to figure out how to change the auto-focus settings. This only means it is more advance than the past Rebels and xxD series that I've used.

HD Video with a Canon DSLR is always fantastic now with more frame rates available. Unfortunately, auto-focus is still NOT like your typical video camera. It takes getting use to. Once you get use to it and assuming you have a powerful computer, your home video will be like no other.

I’m happy to know that Canon finally has built in flash control. After using a Nikon D80 and the built in flash control, I felt bitter that Canon didn’t have the same. I have yet to test it out though.

I believe the extra cost over the xxD series is well translated in the features of this camera. I can imagine the 7D being used much longer than my Canon 30D.

Customer Service

Canon has fixed my gear for free even after the warranty has expired but I have also experienced one repair leading to two more repairs after coming back from service. Build a good relationship with a local camera shop that knows how to work with Canon service.

Settings and custom functions are out growing Canon's menu format. In my opinion they should re-think their interface to keep it simple.

I have not experienced this but overheating is said to be an issue with long video recordings.

I bought this camera to replace my Canon 30D and to supplement my 5DMKII. I wanted something durable and this is the least expensive Canon DSLR with a weather resistant body. Viewing clips of this camera in snow and rain was a selling point for me. I want to go on my next dusty 4x4 trip without having to worry about the camera.

The first thing I noticed after shooting with the 7D is how well it meters the image. I get great contrast even when lighting is harsh. I had a tendency to get blown highlights while using my 5DMKII. The bright LCD is the icing on the cake when reviewing photos.

The 19-point auto-focus is so cool and almost futuristic. It's fast and seems like it read my mind on where to focus. It took me sometime though to figure out how to change the auto-focus settings. This only means it is more advance than the past Rebels and xxD series that I've used.

HD Video with a Canon DSLR is always fantastic now with more frame rates available. Unfortunately, auto-focus is still NOT like your typical video camera. It takes getting use to. Once you get use to it and assuming you have a powerful computer, your home video will be like no other.

I’m happy to know that Canon finally has built in flash control. After using a Nikon D80 and the built in flash control, I felt bitter that Canon didn’t have the same. I have yet to test it out though.

I believe the extra cost over the xxD series is well translated in the features of this camera. I can imagine the 7D being used much longer than my Canon 30D.

Customer Service

Canon has fixed my gear for free even after the warranty has expired but I have also experienced one repair leading to two more repairs after coming back from service. Build a good relationship with a local camera shop that knows how to work with Canon service.

Very fast (8fps). This will come in handy if you need to catch action shots. Its one of the fastest cameras on the market right now. This feature, combined with the resolution and the extended lens reach of the APS-C format will make it a top choice for action shooters.

Electronic level is extremely useful. We all struggle with tilted horizons at some point.

Environmental sealing if you find yourself fighting for survival in a blizzard and wanting to leave a HD video will. Just talk fast to keep it below 12 minutes.

Being able to shoot at very high ISO levels can make the difference between getting the shot or getting the blur.

Weakness:

None really, these are only minor things.

I would love to have a low-resolution mode (4.5MP that combines 4 standard pixels) with even higher ISO. A mode like this would be very useful for location scouting.

No A-Dep mode (see above).

A swivel screen would be nice to be able to hold the camera high above my head or low to the ground while in live view shooting mode.

At 18MP resolution, I calculate a theoretical minimum aperture of f/8. Smaller apertures will already start to show softness due to diffraction. You need to apply more sharpening for those. Only expensive lenses can resolve that much even at the corners.

Canon’s RAW software DPP doesn’t seem to work correct with monitor color profiles. Pictures look different in Photoshop (yellow tint). DPP also could use a curve tool.

With the new EOS 7D, Canon drives the Megapixel hype to the next dimension. The 7D claims the crown of the resolution king among the APS-C crowd and puts the competition to shame, at least after reading the specs. Can the 7D really fulfill the high expectations?

I thought long and hard about the 7D. Should I invest this much money into a camera with crop factor or should I get the 5DM2 instead. The full frame 5D promises much lower noise levels, due to the larger pixels size.

Several factors tipped the scale in favor of the 7D.
The crop factor sensor means I can keep running for a while with my current lens setup and that I can get more reach for my buck. In the telephoto range, a 400mm lens will have more reach than a 600mm on the 5DM2. Lenses in this category are very expensive. The difference between 400 and 600 is huge. I already got the wide-angle range covered with a Tokina 12-24 EF-S lens, which wouldn’t fit the 5D anyways.

The 7D is a newer camera, has two digital signal processors and offers 24fps 1080p video (5DM2 does not have that mode). It has an electronic level, built-in flash and a couple of other goodies and it was cheaper than the 5DM2. Eventually everything comes down to economics. The 7D is a good choice for travel photographers like myself. The weight difference between a telephoto lens for a APS-C and a Full Frame camera with the same reach is not negligible.

Since previous reviewers already covered the technical aspects and since you can always look at the datasheet, I will focus on the practical aspects.

A killer feature for me is the electronic level. You can use it in live view mode or on a tripod, but it doesn’t show in the viewfinder. It helps you to straighten your camera and get level shots. Crop losses due to tilted horizons are history now. No more running around with stupid green levels in the flash shoe either.

I don’t believe that the 100% viewfinder really matters. At 18MP you can afford to crop a bit from the edges. On the other hand, the viewfinder magnification and viewfinder illumination really help. This is just what I need for low light outdoor shots.

The 7D currently offers the most High Definition Video Modes of all cameras. It is the first camera to feature 24fps. Paired with the wide range of EF and EF-S lenses available, manual controls and high ISO performance, it is thus one of the most advanced movie recording systems available on the market. However, at 5.5MB/s and a maximum recording length of 4GB at once, there are some limits (about 12min at max resolution). Most of us won’t record clips that long. I don’t have much use for video, but it’s a nice to have feature.

The 19-pont auto focus is one of the best Canon ever made, or so they claim. I have yet to test the limits, but I expect superior performance tracking moving subjects (wildlife, sports, children). Landscape artists like myself may miss the A-Dep mode, at least when you have come to appreciate it. A-Dep automatically adjusts aperture for optimum depth of field.

It’s good to have environmental sealing, but I suspect that 99% of 7D users won’t need it. I had trouble at extreme temperatures before, but no experience yet how the 7D behaves. However, a professional photographer, whose likelihood depends on the photographs, cannot put her camera away just because of the weather. Ask yourself if you really need it!

One thing that really sold me on this camera is the maximum ISO setting of 12800. The pictures come out very noisy, but scaled down they are very usable.
You can see some examples in my Field review (http://www.aguntherphotography.com/reviews/canon-eos-7d-field-guide.html) that I constantly update with new insights.

Customer Service

The Canon repair service is excellent during your warranty period and horrible thereafter. Charging hefty fees to “evaluate” a non problem really turns me off.
Most products fail early in their life or after quite some time, so I usually don't spend money on extended warranties despite Canon's bad Customer Service performance.

Very fast (8fps). This will come in handy if you need to catch action shots. Its one of the fastest cameras on the market right now. This feature, combined with the resolution and the extended lens reach of the APS-C format will make it a top choice for action shooters.

Electronic level is extremely useful. We all struggle with tilted horizons at some point.

Environmental sealing if you find yourself fighting for survival in a blizzard and wanting to leave a HD video will. Just talk fast to keep it below 12 minutes.

Being able to shoot at very high ISO levels can make the difference between getting the shot or getting the blur.

Weakness:

None really, these are only minor things.

I would love to have a low-resolution mode (4.5MP that combines 4 standard pixels) with even higher ISO. A mode like this would be very useful for location scouting.

No A-Dep mode (see above).

A swivel screen would be nice to be able to hold the camera high above my head or low to the ground while in live view shooting mode.

At 18MP resolution, I calculate a theoretical minimum aperture of f/8. Smaller apertures will already start to show softness due to diffraction. You need to apply more sharpening for those. Only expensive lenses can resolve that much even at the corners.

Canon’s RAW software DPP doesn’t seem to work correct with monitor color profiles. Pictures look different in Photoshop (yellow tint). DPP also could use a curve tool.

With the new EOS 7D, Canon drives the Megapixel hype to the next dimension. The 7D claims the crown of the resolution king among the APS-C crowd and puts the competition to shame, at least after reading the specs. Can the 7D really fulfill the high expectations?

I thought long and hard about the 7D. Should I invest this much money into a camera with crop factor or should I get the 5DM2 instead. The full frame 5D promises much lower noise levels, due to the larger pixels size.

Several factors tipped the scale in favor of the 7D.
The crop factor sensor means I can keep running for a while with my current lens setup and that I can get more reach for my buck. In the telephoto range, a 400mm lens will have more reach than a 600mm on the 5DM2. Lenses in this category are very expensive. The difference between 400 and 600 is huge. I already got the wide-angle range covered with a Tokina 12-24 EF-S lens, which wouldn’t fit the 5D anyways.

The 7D is a newer camera, has two digital signal processors and offers 24fps 1080p video (5DM2 does not have that mode). It has an electronic level, built-in flash and a couple of other goodies and it was cheaper than the 5DM2. Eventually everything comes down to economics. The 7D is a good choice for travel photographers like myself. The weight difference between a telephoto lens for a APS-C and a Full Frame camera with the same reach is not negligible.

Since previous reviewers already covered the technical aspects and since you can always look at the datasheet, I will focus on the practical aspects.

A killer feature for me is the electronic level. You can use it in live view mode or on a tripod, but it doesn’t show in the viewfinder. It helps you to straighten your camera and get level shots. Crop losses due to tilted horizons are history now. No more running around with stupid green levels in the flash shoe either.

I don’t believe that the 100% viewfinder really matters. At 18MP you can afford to crop a bit from the edges. On the other hand, the viewfinder magnification and viewfinder illumination really help. This is just what I need for low light outdoor shots.

The 7D currently offers the most High Definition Video Modes of all cameras. It is the first camera to feature 24fps. Paired with the wide range of EF and EF-S lenses available, manual controls and high ISO performance, it is thus one of the most advanced movie recording systems available on the market. However, at 5.5MB/s and a maximum recording length of 4GB at once, there are some limits (about 12min at max resolution). Most of us won’t record clips that long. I don’t have much use for video, but it’s a nice to have feature.

The 19-pont auto focus is one of the best Canon ever made, or so they claim. I have yet to test the limits, but I expect superior performance tracking moving subjects (wildlife, sports, children). Landscape artists like myself may miss the A-Dep mode, at least when you have come to appreciate it. A-Dep automatically adjusts aperture for optimum depth of field.

It’s good to have environmental sealing, but I suspect that 99% of 7D users won’t need it. I had trouble at extreme temperatures before, but no experience yet how the 7D behaves. However, a professional photographer, whose likelihood depends on the photographs, cannot put her camera away just because of the weather. Ask yourself if you really need it!

One thing that really sold me on this camera is the maximum ISO setting of 12800. The pictures come out very noisy, but scaled down they are very usable.
You can see some examples in my Field review (http://www.aguntherphotography.com/reviews/canon-eos-7d-field-guide.html) that I constantly update with new insights.

Customer Service

The Canon repair service is excellent during your warranty period and horrible thereafter. Charging hefty fees to “evaluate” a non problem really turns me off.
Most products fail early in their life or after quite some time, so I usually don't spend money on extended warranties despite Canon's bad Customer Service performance.

Similar Products Used:

Canon 300D, Canon 20D, Canon 450D

OVERALLRATING

5

★★★★★

★★★★★

VALUERATING

4

★★★★★

★★★★★

[Nov 18, 2009]

Chris Snyder

Expert

Strength:

Speed and handling. Image quality throughout ISO range. Detail retention even at 200%.

Weakness:

No second CF card slot. Lack of in body stabilization which makes, me at least, buy more expensive lenses. Price vs image quality verses XSi and 50D in the Canon line.

I have owned the Canon Rebel XT, Rebel XSi, 40D, 50D, and now the 7D. I primarily shoot wildlife and action. The 7D is by a good margin the best crop sensor DSLR that I have ever used.

Controls are intuitive if someone is moving up from an XXD model. And really not a very large learning curve for Rebel owners. The camera is heavier and larger than the Rebel models and slightly heavier than the previous XXD models too, but not noticeably so for me. The camera fits nicely in my hands. I wear a size large glove.

Features wise the camera is a significant upgrade from my previous bodies. The viewfinder at 100% is great. The 8 frames/second is fast though not as big a difference from the 40 and 50D as I would have imagined. One of my favorite features is the Q button that allows for very quick changes to a variety of settings. The on camera flash also seems much better to me.

The Auto Focus which many people will either buy or not buy this camera is to me fantastic. It does however take some trial and error for your type of shooting. I have had great success with moving objects with both expansion points and single point selection in Al Servo mode. I still haven't tried auto focus zones yet for movement. I find that Al Focus mode is also pretty effective in locking on and tracking moving objects. Achieving focus is very quick.

The image quality has been fantastic for a crop sensor camera especially with good glass. The detail that you are able to achieve is really fantastic. I loved my 40D until it got stolen but I also thought the 50D replacement was an improvement in many areas. But I think the 7D bests both. I have found that you are able to sharpen images to a much higher degree without seeing sharpening artifacts compared to those other two bodies. I can only assume that is because of the greater resolution the 18 MP provide.

The high ISO capability has been a pleasant surprise to me as well. ISO 6400 shots are definitely very usable up to an A3 sized print especially with some post processing.

Overall this camera has been the best DSLR that I have used. Feature wise it seems to be very much like a 1 series camera. Obviously, it doesn't quite compare in image quality though the image quality is outstanding for a 1.6x crop sensor.

I think this will be a favorite of wildlife and action photographers that don't want to ante up for a 1 series camera. I also think that it will do well in portrait or landscape photography. Low light event photographers will enjoy this camera even if they may have to do some extra work in post processing their images.

If you are just a landscape photographer or even primarily like to shoot portraits you might want to consider the much less expensive but much much slower Rebel XSi which has amazing image quality for the price or move up to a full frame sensor camera which is much more expensive.

Customer Service

I have only had excellent customer service with Canon. They helped with fixing both a 70-200 f2.8 IS lens and walked me through some issues I had with the pixma pro9000 printer.

I was very happy with the service I received from Independent Photo Art Supply in Kansas City, MO.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon D50, Canon Rebel XT, Canon Rebel XSi, Canon 40D, Canon 50D

OVERALLRATING

5

★★★★★

★★★★★

VALUERATING

5

★★★★★

★★★★★

[Nov 18, 2009]

Chris Snyder

Expert

Strength:

Speed and handling. Image quality throughout ISO range. Detail retention even at 200%.

Weakness:

No second CF card slot. Lack of in body stabilization which makes, me at least, buy more expensive lenses. Price vs image quality verses XSi and 50D in the Canon line.

I have owned the Canon Rebel XT, Rebel XSi, 40D, 50D, and now the 7D. I primarily shoot wildlife and action. The 7D is by a good margin the best crop sensor DSLR that I have ever used.

Controls are intuitive if someone is moving up from an XXD model. And really not a very large learning curve for Rebel owners. The camera is heavier and larger than the Rebel models and slightly heavier than the previous XXD models too, but not noticeably so for me. The camera fits nicely in my hands. I wear a size large glove.

Features wise the camera is a significant upgrade from my previous bodies. The viewfinder at 100% is great. The 8 frames/second is fast though not as big a difference from the 40 and 50D as I would have imagined. One of my favorite features is the Q button that allows for very quick changes to a variety of settings. The on camera flash also seems much better to me.

The Auto Focus which many people will either buy or not buy this camera is to me fantastic. It does however take some trial and error for your type of shooting. I have had great success with moving objects with both expansion points and single point selection in Al Servo mode. I still haven't tried auto focus zones yet for movement. I find that Al Focus mode is also pretty effective in locking on and tracking moving objects. Achieving focus is very quick.

The image quality has been fantastic for a crop sensor camera especially with good glass. The detail that you are able to achieve is really fantastic. I loved my 40D until it got stolen but I also thought the 50D replacement was an improvement in many areas. But I think the 7D bests both. I have found that you are able to sharpen images to a much higher degree without seeing sharpening artifacts compared to those other two bodies. I can only assume that is because of the greater resolution the 18 MP provide.

The high ISO capability has been a pleasant surprise to me as well. ISO 6400 shots are definitely very usable up to an A3 sized print especially with some post processing.

Overall this camera has been the best DSLR that I have used. Feature wise it seems to be very much like a 1 series camera. Obviously, it doesn't quite compare in image quality though the image quality is outstanding for a 1.6x crop sensor.

I think this will be a favorite of wildlife and action photographers that don't want to ante up for a 1 series camera. I also think that it will do well in portrait or landscape photography. Low light event photographers will enjoy this camera even if they may have to do some extra work in post processing their images.

If you are just a landscape photographer or even primarily like to shoot portraits you might want to consider the much less expensive but much much slower Rebel XSi which has amazing image quality for the price or move up to a full frame sensor camera which is much more expensive.

Customer Service

I have only had excellent customer service with Canon. They helped with fixing both a 70-200 f2.8 IS lens and walked me through some issues I had with the pixma pro9000 printer.

I was very happy with the service I received from Independent Photo Art Supply in Kansas City, MO.

*8 frames per second continuous shooting: gives you very fast capabilities to help you capture those moments that can pass by too easily, that great hit in a baseball game, or the great save in hockey or even to catch that smile from someone just turning away after saying goodbye...

*1080p HD video recording with manual controls: The best video options in any DSLR so far. It will not replace your camcorder as there are pro features which mean not a point and shoot video camera with auto focus. The quality of the video and the capabilities of using interchangeable lenses with adjustable Depth of Field are great.

*3.0 inch Clear View II LCD screen with 920,000 dots: Crystal clear high quality to review your shots and verify whether 100% focus was achieved as well as the ability to make many camera adjustments if you want to.

*19-point AF system (all cross-type): A new improved focus system, very versatile with many new setting to be able to get the camera to work the way you want. Also new focus zones and spot focus capabilities.

*1.0x magnification and 100% coverage viewfinder with Transmissive LCD screen: To be able to see everything that will be in your final image and not miss that little bit that was just outside the frame. Big easy to see, clear and with the new display for focus points (gotta love it showing you the points that have focus while in AIServo focus mode and following a bird in the sky.

Environmental sealing: Better sealing for the bad weather shooting you might end up with.

*New metering: which include color and focus point information for more accurate metering

Wider selection of image parameters: like +-5 for exposure compensation that can be shifts +-8 stops

2 Digic4 Processors to give the camera the speed it needs to handle all this and yet push up to 16 18mp RAW file continuous shooting to the buffer/card (126 jpegs).

The list just goes on and on.

Weakness:

None so far. Excellent

This is the camera that many of us xxD users have been waiting for. It has a more professional feature set at a less than professional price. They have improved virtually everything over the xxD series. I personally owned the 10D, 20D, 40D and 50D... each being better than the last but this is not that equivalent of incremental upgrade. This is a new model which shows an advantage in every areas. It was well thought out and gives the majority of features that everyone wanted.

This is a new advanced model crop camera no matter what number of letters Canon decided to come up with. They probably called it the 7D because it is a more professional camera even than the 5D series except for final image quality which should always go to a FF camera yet the quality of the 7D photos are excellent and any difference cannot be realized unless printing at very large poster sizes which I never do which is why I love this camera. High ISO is excellent, new 100% viewfinder, fast accurate focus especially good for tracking Birds in Flight or cars racing around a track.

This is definitely the best crop camera out there.

This is a really great camera. I am really enjoying it. You think this camera has what you need then run to get it. It is well worth it. Is it perfect? No... There is no such thing as a perfect camera (perfect anything for that matter)... What it does offer you is a very full feature set, great quality all around for a reasonable price.

*8 frames per second continuous shooting: gives you very fast capabilities to help you capture those moments that can pass by too easily, that great hit in a baseball game, or the great save in hockey or even to catch that smile from someone just turning away after saying goodbye...

*1080p HD video recording with manual controls: The best video options in any DSLR so far. It will not replace your camcorder as there are pro features which mean not a point and shoot video camera with auto focus. The quality of the video and the capabilities of using interchangeable lenses with adjustable Depth of Field are great.

*3.0 inch Clear View II LCD screen with 920,000 dots: Crystal clear high quality to review your shots and verify whether 100% focus was achieved as well as the ability to make many camera adjustments if you want to.

*19-point AF system (all cross-type): A new improved focus system, very versatile with many new setting to be able to get the camera to work the way you want. Also new focus zones and spot focus capabilities.

*1.0x magnification and 100% coverage viewfinder with Transmissive LCD screen: To be able to see everything that will be in your final image and not miss that little bit that was just outside the frame. Big easy to see, clear and with the new display for focus points (gotta love it showing you the points that have focus while in AIServo focus mode and following a bird in the sky.

Environmental sealing: Better sealing for the bad weather shooting you might end up with.

*New metering: which include color and focus point information for more accurate metering

Wider selection of image parameters: like +-5 for exposure compensation that can be shifts +-8 stops

2 Digic4 Processors to give the camera the speed it needs to handle all this and yet push up to 16 18mp RAW file continuous shooting to the buffer/card (126 jpegs).

The list just goes on and on.

Weakness:

None so far. Excellent

This is the camera that many of us xxD users have been waiting for. It has a more professional feature set at a less than professional price. They have improved virtually everything over the xxD series. I personally owned the 10D, 20D, 40D and 50D... each being better than the last but this is not that equivalent of incremental upgrade. This is a new model which shows an advantage in every areas. It was well thought out and gives the majority of features that everyone wanted.

This is a new advanced model crop camera no matter what number of letters Canon decided to come up with. They probably called it the 7D because it is a more professional camera even than the 5D series except for final image quality which should always go to a FF camera yet the quality of the 7D photos are excellent and any difference cannot be realized unless printing at very large poster sizes which I never do which is why I love this camera. High ISO is excellent, new 100% viewfinder, fast accurate focus especially good for tracking Birds in Flight or cars racing around a track.

This is definitely the best crop camera out there.

This is a really great camera. I am really enjoying it. You think this camera has what you need then run to get it. It is well worth it. Is it perfect? No... There is no such thing as a perfect camera (perfect anything for that matter)... What it does offer you is a very full feature set, great quality all around for a reasonable price.